Care4 Breast Cancer 5K set for Sunday in Woodstock

Cheerleaders and poms team members from Marlowe Middle School in Huntley cheer as they line the start of the 16th annual Care4 Breast Cancer 5K run/walk Oct. 16, 2016, at Woodstock North High School. More than 1,600 participants either walked or ran the race, which supports the Family Health Partnership Clinic's breast cancer fund.

“People can get jaded,” said Suzanne Hoban, executive director of the clinic. “They see it and just let it go by, until someone they know or love finds a lump.”

The clinic will host its annual Care4 Breast Cancer 5K run/walk Sunday in Woodstock. The fundraising event is in its 17th year, and the clinic is expecting about 2,000 participants, along with another 1,000 spectators and volunteers, Hoban said.

The clinic has a fundraising goal of $150,000. Proceeds go to the clinic’s breast cancer fund to provide services to low-income and uninsured patients.

“It helps men and women access screening services if they cannot get them anywhere else,” Hoban said. “It goes into health education, early detection and patient navigation services.”

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death among women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Breast cancer in men is more rare, but it occurs in less than 1 percent of diagnoses and has a higher mortality rate, according to the foundation.

The event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road. Registration is $35. Interested participants can register at hpclinic.org.